UGC acts to ensure more women in IITs: List of measures taken

The UGC has initiated a move to ensure that enrolment of women in Indian Institutes of Technology increase by 20 per cent by 2020-21 by creating supernumerary seats.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has initiated a slew of measures to ensure better higher education and opportunities like scholarship to women. Among them is a move to ensure that enrolment of women in Indian Institutes of Technology increase by 20 per cent by 2020-21 by creating supernumerary seats.

Here are the highlights of the measures taken up by UGC:

1. On the recommendation of a committee constituted by the Joint Admission Board (JAB), it has been decided to increase female enrolment in IITs from 8% in 2016 to 14% in 2018-19, 17% in 2019-20 and 20% in 2020-21 by creating supernumerary seats.

2. A Sub-Committee under Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) has been constituted to look into the issues related to Girls’ Education. The interim recommendations of the Sub-Committee inter-alia, include setting up of Residential Degree Colleges and Polytechnics for Women in the District Head Quarters, Exclusive Women University in each State and providing free education to girls upto PG level etc.

3. Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), Central support is offered to increase access, equity and quality of higher education. Till date, the scheme has approved central assistance for 232 women colleges across States and Union Territories under various components such as creation of Model Degree Colleges (MDCs), new colleges (professional & technical), Equity Initiatives, Upgradation of Colleges to MDCs and Infrastructure Grants to Colleges.

4. Pro-active measures to attract girls in technical education through measures such as providing relaxation in land norms, FDR and Processing Fee for setting up of technical institutions specially for girls. Additionally, Pragati scholarship scheme introduced to provide scholarship for girls in AICTE approved Institutions.

5. The UGC is also implementing schemes for development of Women’s Studies in Indian Universities and Colleges, setting up of Women Hostels for Colleges and Universities, Capacity Building of Women Managers in Higher Education, Establishment of Day Care Centre in Central and State Universities.